Organic or homemade spray for Apple trees - Ask Extension
My apple trees seem to have scab/sunburn and/or tiny holes (bee stings?) every year. They produce well, but the apples are not very attractive. Is the...
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Organic or homemade spray for Apple trees #253550
Asked June 12, 2015, 11:44 AM EDT
My apple trees seem to have scab/sunburn and/or tiny holes (bee stings?) every year. They produce well, but the apples are not very attractive. Is there anything organic that I can spray this late to help prevent this?
Thank you!!
Deanna
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
I would need to see a picture or sample in order to properly diagnosis the problem with your apples, however - it sounds like it is most likely apple scab. This is a very common disease fungus that affects apples in the Willamette Valley. In this OSU Extension article, How to control apple scab, an Extension horticulturist offers these tips for preventing the disease:
- Apply nitrogen to leaves in the fall to enhance decomposition of fallen leaves and make them more palatable to earthworms. - Shred fallen leaves in the fall with a mower to help speed up decomposition. - Prune your apple trees to open up branching and allow more air circulation. - When watering your apple trees, avoid getting foliage wet. - If the disease still persists after these measures, you can use a dormant spray (during the winter) of lime sulfur or a copper fungicide, both of which are organic controls. Make sure to completely follow the label of either of these products.
Good luck,
I would need to see a picture or sample in order to properly diagnosis the problem with your apples, however - it sounds like it is most likely apple scab. This is a very common disease fungus that affects apples in the Willamette Valley. In this OSU Extension article, How to control apple scab, an Extension horticulturist offers these tips for preventing the disease:
- Apply nitrogen to leaves in the fall to enhance decomposition of fallen leaves and make them more palatable to earthworms. - Shred fallen leaves in the fall with a mower to help speed up decomposition. - Prune your apple trees to open up branching and allow more air circulation. - When watering your apple trees, avoid getting foliage wet. - If the disease still persists after these measures, you can use a dormant spray (during the winter) of lime sulfur or a copper fungicide, both of which are organic controls. Make sure to completely follow the label of either of these products.
Good luck,
